Partnerships for a Cause: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that they have partnered with their supporter’s group, Club Quake, and the Soccer Silicon Valley Community Foundation for the third straight year to participate in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light The Night Walk on Saturday, Oct. 23 in San Jose. Earthquakes players, members of the team’s front office, along with Earthquakes fans will walk in the event that raises funds and awareness for blood cancers. This year the team will walk in honor of former Earthquakes player Joe Vide, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma earlier this year.

The Earthquakes will also host The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) at Buck Shaw Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 21 and Saturday, Sept. 11. Six-year old Aidan Bowen, who was diagnosed with leukemia in 2007, will perform the honorary First Kick at this Saturday’s game against the LA Galaxy. At the following match on Sept. 11 against FC Dallas, the Earthquakes will also host a silent auction for signed Earthquakes jerseys. Proceeds from the auction will benefit both LLS and the San Jose Earthquakes Community Fund. Fans will be able to sign up for the Light The Night Walk at the LLS booth in the pregame vendor area this weekend and on Sept. 11.

On Oct. 23, Club Quake, SSVCF and the Earthquakes will host a viewing party for the Quakes final game of the regular season that day at O’Flaherty’s in San Pedro Square in San Jose. The Quakes take on the Kansas City Wizards at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan. and fans can catch the game at O’Flaherty’s at 5:30 p.m. PT. At the viewing party, a raffle will be held for people that have signed up for the Earthquakes walk team. For every $25 donated to the walk team, a fan will receive a raffle ticket. The prizes include Earthquakes tickets, a team signed ball, a team-signed jersey and other prizes. Immediately following the game, Quakes fans can participate in the walk.

The Light The Night Walk festivities at Arena Green Park in San Jose will begin at 5 p.m. PT, with the walk starting at dusk. Participants walk carrying illuminated balloons to celebrate and commemorate lives touched by cancer. All funds raised through the Light The Night Walk support LLS’s mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life for patients and their families. Children, adults and seniors are all encouraged to participate in the event. Fans that sign up for the Earthquakes Team will receive a commemorative t-shirt.

The Light The Night Walk brings together people from across the United States and Canada to raise money and awareness for cancer research. Donations will go towards lifesaving blood cancer research, free educational materials and events for patients and families, local programs such as Family Support Groups and a peer-to-peer consulting program called First Connection, and comprehensive assistance through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Information Resource Center.

People interested in walking with the San Jose Earthquakes at Light The Night can register on-line at the Earthquakes team page.

For information about other walks happening in the Bay Area, go to www.lightthenight.org. To learn more about The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, visit www.lls.org.